Project Management Tools

My PR / Public Affairs firm is starting to get involved in more involved IT based communications projects. We are looking to implement a project management tool but are unsure what would be best. We are nervous that Microsoft Project might be a little too complex for our purposes at this time. We currently use an online based CRM for project work but it is not cutting it.

Anyone have any other suggestions for a firm of about 25 employees looking for a project management tool?
Thanks,
DS

I used to use a combination of MPP and Excel. Now I use MPP and Jira
(http://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/). I use MPP for high level project
scheduling, tracking and reports to executive management and Jira for
everything at the project team level - for all the detailed tasks
tracking, collaboration, reporting etc...
Regards,
Amichai Lichtenstein
HSBC Technology and Services | HSBC Technologies inc.
HTS Software House - Internet Payment Services

My PR / Public Affairs firm is starting to get involved in more involved IT
based communications projects. We are looking to implement a project
management tool but are unsure what would be best. We are nervous that
Microsoft Project might be a little too complex for our purposes at this
time. We currently use an online based CRM for project work but it is not
cutting it.
Anyone have any other suggestions for a firm of about 25 employees looking
for a project management tool?
Thanks,
DS

Before picking a tool, you need to determine what style of PM that you are using or need to use.
1. If your projects are pre-planned, i.e., you can pretty much define what needs to be done at the beginning of the project and how the work should be executed, then something like MSProject will work great.2. If you go into a project without a clear understanding of what needs to be done and you will continue to define the work as you execute the project, then you are more in line with the Agile methodologies.3. If you just need some way to organize and manage the tasks that you need to execute, then you are looking at more of a task management tool.
Are you able to answer any of these questions? If so, then we can take the next step to figuring out what tool(s) might work for you.

Feel free to take a look at QuickArrow. It is a web based PSA (Professional Services Automation) tool that does allow for Project Mgmt, Time & Expense Billing Mgmt and Resource Mgmt. They do have many clients in your size range.

Wikipeda provides a list of PM software. In the search field enter >>> list of project managment software. This is by no means an all inclusive list however, it is a starting point.
It also provides some info on pricing which is a little dated.
The url that follows is a link is to a site that evaluated some packages including MS Project.
@task was the winner followed by MS Project then Daptiva.

Start with requirements and if you haven't formalized a list then visit some of the sites and watch the product demos. Those sites that have not created a demo usually have a list of features that will be useful in your evaluation.
Good Luck!

Hi Darren,
maybe you should have a look into the Project Management Tools of Deltek
www.Deltek.comDeltek Provides Tools for Scheduling - Open Plan - and Solutions for Cost Control , Colaboration with Portals.
The Solutions can be used in a very basic beginners mode and - since being scalable - used for more advanced purposes later on.
So you could start with scheduling, later you can add resource management and go all the way to an Earned Value Approch if required.
Support, Training, Consulting, all is available from Deltek.
best Regards
Ulrich Hofmann
PMS- Project Consulting
www.pms-c.deI used to use a combination of MPP and Excel. Now I use MPP and Jira
(http://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/). I use MPP for high level project
scheduling, tracking and reports to executive management and Jira for
everything at the project team level - for all the detailed tasks
tracking, collaboration, reporting etc...
Regards,
Amichai Lichtenstein
HSBC Technology and Services | HSBC Technologies inc.
HTS Software House - Internet Payment Services

(Embedded image moved to file: pic24272.jpg)
My PR / Public Affairs firm is starting to get involved in more involved IT
based communications projects. We are looking to implement a project
management tool but are unsure what would be best. We are nervous that
Microsoft Project might be a little too complex for our purposes at this
time. We currently use an online based CRM for project work but it is not
cutting it.
Anyone have any other suggestions for a firm of about 25 employees looking
for a project management tool?
Thanks,
DS

There are hundreds of tools on the market these days and most do a good job.
What you need to look for is the company that can support you and provide
good customer service as well. I am partial to VCSonline.com but like I said
there are some really good ones out there and then there are some
nightmares. Good luck.

Hi DS,
I wonder how many people (companies) can truthfully claim that Project
Management actually works!
The problem is NEVER with the software but with people!
I know of an engineer who - in frustration - has written a "real-time"
people and resources management tool.
It will even send SMS's to remind "people" of meetings.
It is a South African designed and supported product (I used it myself
for many years) and wondered if you would like their contact details.
I am in no way connected to the company and am a Distributor for our own
Management Information System (MIS) for the Printing, Publishing, Repro,
Mailing House and Advertising industries.
Regards
George

Making PM "work" relys on skillful PM leadership (as opposed to tools) and
backing of executive-level sponsorship. A good RACI will help inform the
team of their responsibilties on the project, a robust communication plan
(minutes, dashboards, etc..) and a simple scheduling package will
make a good backbone. It sounds like you should be speaking with the PM at
the site to find out how they plan their jobs or get a PM into your
organization who can help support PM activities at the site.

Dear Paul,
You have hit the Bulls Eye. Infact, some people take the PMP as a Ladder to the Seniority slab. But, sometimes there are some good students and as the saying All Good Students Maynot be Good Indutry Architects and Managers, though analysis says that many of them are very successful.
But, Yes Experience Always Counts.
Regards
Prosenjit

give web based HyperOffice a shot (www.hyperoffice.com/online-project-management/). its completely web based, so very easy to set up and accessible by the project team even if theyre outside the office. its got pretty robust features, but presented in a simple point and click format.
to tell you about some of its project management features - project scheduling tools (create projects, set deadlines, assign responsibilities, track project etc), file storage and collaboration, project "workspaces", forums etc.

Hi Darren...
There's a new website http://www.erp-blue-diamond.com that addresses the very question you pose. They have a new and slightly different approach to project management. Almost the whole site is geared toward project management and they use mind maps and collaboration tools. It's easy and interesting to use!
It's a brand new site and I think it's still got some rough edges. If you want more info, I'll be glad to talk to you. E-mail me at email@removed .
Regards

1. Checkout the Wikipedia site mentioned in an earlier post - it's very good regardless of date relevancy.
2. Look at other comparison charts - avoid anything that looks sponsored or provided by a PM Tools company; I wouldn't trust the results to be unbiased.
3. Go with the best open source tool you can find - cheap and practical. If you are starting the PPM route (online management of projects and their collective measurement in a portfolio) you will 'never - ever' finish your journey with the same tool you start with (save spending $200K+ on one of the big boys) and you don't know your requirements yet. Can you say that you do or don't need Resource Management (and what does Resource Management mean to you and to the tools??) There are hundreds of those distinctions that without knowledge of your true needs, it's better to pick something that looks nice and give it a whirl.
4. Whatever you pick, ensure that it has a robust export process available. If you start this process knowing that you might swap tools, the last thing you want to do is get stuck w/a format you can't get away from. MSP compatibility is a decent fallback.
That's it - these tools are 'personal' at the corporate level. What looks stellar to you will be a bust for someone else. Do you homework (but just a little) - try to spend zero dollars on acquisition and don't fuss with tool configuration beyond what you absolutely have to have on day 1. The rest will come over time.
Cris Rogers - project mechanic
projectmechanic.com (under construction)

John:
I don't know why it won't work on your system. I use Flash 10 and I believe it works in 32 bit mode. Not sure of 64 bit. You may need to turn off pop up blocker. You can reach me at 314-578-4442.
One of the things offered is a hotline. So, if you're a PM and you run into a snag; politics, client resistance, scope creep, resource issues, etc., the PM can call in anonymously, explain the situation and get some coaching. If they can't help you after hearing you out, they'll say so. It's worth $50 for the hour though! If they can't help... no charge. Having someone to speak with really helps!

When using a Windows 64 Bit OS (XP or Vista), you will need to use the 32-Bit version of Internet Explorer (IE), to run Adobe Flash. The 64-Bit version of IE is activated by default when using a Win 64-Bit system.
So to use the 32-Bit IE version instead, in Windows Explorer, navigate to Program Files (x86) --> Internet Explorer and right-click on the "iexplore.exe" file. In the short menu, select Send To --> Desktop (create shortcut). This will add an Icon to your Desktop. Then you can use the 32-Bit version of IE from there or add it to wherever you store your short-cuts / favorites. I basically use the 32-Bit version all the time, as there are a few "quirks" with the 64-Bit version of IE.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,